Scroll forming apparatus



y 7, 1968 w. D. DULEY 3,381,510

SCROLL FORMING APPARATUS Filed June 5, 1966 INVENTOR. WAYNE 0. DULE Y United States Patent 3,381,510 SCROLL FORD KING APPARATUS Wayne D. Duley, Dexter, Mm, assignor to Daley Steel Products, Inc, a corporation of Missouri Filed June 3, 1966, Ser. No. 555,133 7 Claims. (U. 72-146) This invention relates to an apparatus for bending scroll formations from strip or bar stock and particularly such apparatus useful for forming ornamental ironwork scrolls.

An object .of the invention is to provide scroll forming apparatus which may optionally be embodied in a portable machine or as a stationary mechanism in a machine shop or the like.

A further object is to provide a scroll forming apparatus for consistently forming scrolls of uniform configuration.

A further object is to provide such apparatus which forms scrolls quickly and easily.

A further object is to provide an adjustable apparatus for forming scrolls of a desired length or a desired number of spiral turns.

A further object is to provide a scroll forming apparatus which is adjustable for bending tight-turned or loose turned scrolls.

A further object is to provide a substantially small compact lightweight scroll forming machine which may be conveniently placed at the building site or the site of ironwork construction.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment may be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the scroll forming machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view taken as from FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a. schematic illustration of the mechanical principle of the machine.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by reference characters, the invention is illustrated in a machine 11 which includes basically a frame 13, a drive roller 15, an idle roller 17, and an idle wheel 19. Machine 11 also includes a motor 21 and clutch means 23 for releasably engaging drive roller 15.

Frame 13 is preferably formed of upstanding parallel arranged side and end members 25, 27, and 29, 31 respectively. The respective frame members are formed of plate material and are fixedly secured along the respec tive vertical edge portions as by welding. Parallel arranged front and back frame members 25, 27 and parallel arranged left and right end members 29, 31 are secured together in generally rectangular configuration.

A cylindrical tubular bearing member 33 is fixedly secured perpendicularly between front and back frame members 25, 27; the opposite end portions of bearing member 33 extend through and project slightly from the outer surfaces respectively of side members 25, 27. Drive roller in the preferred form of the machine is in essence an end portion of drive shaft 35. Drive shaft 35 extends through and is axially secured in tubular bearing member 33; suitable bearing means (not shown) journals drive shaft 35 in tubular bearing member 33. The drive roller portion of drive shaft 35 is preferably provided with longitudinally extending flutes or splines 37. V- rimmed pulleys 39, 41 are fixed respectively on the end portions of motor shaft 43 and drive shaft 35; a V-belt 45 interengages pulleys 39, 41.

Clutch means 23 includes an arm member 47 having fixedly secured at the opposite end portions an openbored boss portion 49 and a stud shaft 51. The stud shaft extends perpendicularly through the upper end portion Patented May 5, i368 lCe of arm member 47 in a T-shaped arrangement. A substantially small flat-faced idle pulley 53 is journalled on the outwardly extending portion of stud shaft 51. A pivot pin 55 perpendicularly fixed to and extending outwardly from back frame member 27 pivotally supports arm member 47; arm member boss portion 49 is pivotably fitted over pivot pin 55. Arm member 4'7 is adapted to be pivotally moved to and from an engaged or a disengaged position. In an engaged position (see FIGS. 1 and 2) idle pulley 53 presses upwardly on the lower span of belt 45, tensions the belt, and turns drive roller 15. To disengage roller 15, arm member 47 is pivotally moved away from belt member (to the right as viewed in FIG. 1), and in such a position belt .5 is slackened and drive roller 15 disengaged from motor Zll.

A. hand operable clutch lever 57 and a clutch rod 59 provide the basic parts for pivoting arm member d7 and for engaging and disengaging the motor and drive roller. Boss portion er of clutch lever 57 is pivotally fitted over a pivot pin d3 fixed perpendicularly to back frame member 27. One end of clutch rod 53 is circularly bent to form an eye portion 65, the opposite end of the clutch rod is square bent to form a pin portion 6). A pivot pin 69 perpendicularly fixed to arm member l-F pivotally engages clutch rod eye portion es. Pin portion 67 of the clutch rod pivotally extends through an aperture ill in the lower intermediate portion of clutch lever 5'7.

Idle roller It? is freely journalled on a short stud shaft 73 integrally formed of a main idle roller shaft 75. Stud shaft 73 projects eccentrically from an end portion of main shaft 75. The main shaft is journalled in paired sleeve-like bearing members 7'7, 79 fixedly secured respectively in front and back frame members 25, 27. Turnably manipulating main shaft '75 and eccentrically moving idle roller 17 provide adjustment means for bending a tight-turned or a loose-turned scroll. A pointer collar 31 fixedly secured on main shaft 75, and graduated markings 33 circumferentially formed on back bearing member 79 provide means for determining the eccentric setting of idle roller 17 and for approximating the desired scroll configuration. A setscrew 85 threadedly fitted in bearing member '77 adjustably engages idle roller shaft for fixedly journalling the idle roller at a desired setting.

A shaft 37 and paired sleeve-like bearings 39, 91 journal i' le wheel 19 on frame 13. Bearings 39, ill extend respectively through front and back frame members 25, 27 and each bearing projects slightly from the outside surface of the respective frame members. idle wheel 19 includes a hub portion 93 a rim portion having a convexly curved peripheral face 97 extending around the hub portion. The face surface of idle wheel 19 in machine fl, and in the illustrative embodiment of the invention, is a single-curved face. The face surface of idle wheel ll; preferably extends circumferentially in the form of a substantially uniform spiral; idle wheel l9 presents a lefthand spiral configuration when viewed in profile and as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. Starting from a datum plane X (see PEG. 1) and moving counterclockwise the curved peripheral face 97 of idle wheel 1% curves along a line running progressively distant from the axis of the wheel. idle wheel i9 is adapted to rotatingly move back and forth in an oscillating manner as machine ll is being used.

Stop means are provided for stopping the rotative movement of the idle wheel at a certain position; a pair of stop lugs 99, till fixed respectively on wheel l9 and front frame member 25 stop the rotative movement of idle wheel 19 in one direction (a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1). The relative arrangement of parts of machine is such that the clockwise rotation of idle wheel 19 is stopped substantially in the position illustrated in H6. 1 and with the longer radii portions Q3 of face 97 being adjacent drive roller 15. A drum member 103 fixed on idle wheel shaft 37 and a long tension spring 105 provide means for urging idle wheel 19 to a stopped position and in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1. Anchor pin and hook members 107, 199 fixed respectively on drum member 103 and frame end member 31 tension spring 1% and urge idle wheel 19 to the stopped position.

A blade-like trip arm 111 is adjustably secured on that end of shaft 8'] remote from idle wheel 19. A setscrew 113 extending through 'boss portion 115 of trip arm 111 adjustably fixes the radial position of the trip arm relative to idle wheel shaft 37. The leading edge surface 117 of trip arm 111 is adapted to engage the inwardly projecting portion 119 of stud shaft 51 and to disengage drive roller from motor 21.

A horizontal guide plate 121 and a vertical guide bar 123 fixed respectively on front frame member provide means for guiding the initial movement of a workpiece as it is being scroll-formed.

The following briefly describes the use of machine 11: With motor 21 running, the operator pulls clutch lever 57 outwardly (to the left as viewed in FIG. 1) and in so doing moves idler pulley 53 under belt 45 and engages drive roller 15. With the drive roller turning, the operator guides the end portion E of a workpiece W along guide member 121, 123; between drive roller 15 and idle roller 17; and between drive roller 15 and idle wheel 19. The bottom surface B of workpiece W adjacent the end portion thereof engages fluted drive roller 15 and the workpiece end portion is wedgingly urged against idle wheel face 97 and between the idle wheel and drive roller. Simultaneously, the workpiece is fulcrumed across drive roller 15 and the top surface T engages the face of idle roller 17. The clockwise turning drive roller 15 carries workpiece W endwise and moves idle wheel 19 in a counterclockwise direction. The counterclockwise rotation of drive wheel 19 and the spiral shape of the idle wheel face causes an increasingly larger gap between the idle wheel face and the face of drive roller 15. As the workpiece moves endwise and the spacing between the drive roller and idle wheel becomes increasingly greater, the curve formed in workpiece W becomes increasingly greater in curvature. With continued turning of the idle wheel, the leading edge surface 117 of trip arm 111 engages clutch arm shaft portion 119 and moves clutch idler pulley 53 from under 'belt 45; the movement of pulley 53 loosens belt 45 and stops rotation of drive roller 15. With drive roller 15 and the endwise movement of the workpiece stopped, the straight unbent portion of the workpiece may be pressed slightly downwardly to loosen the workpiece so that it may be removed from the machine.

Should it be desired to form a tight-turned scroll, idle roller eccentric shaft 75' is turned inwardly and the idle roller moved in a generally downward direction (a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3). This is done by loosening setscrew 85, aligning the pointer on collar 81 with a desired mark of markings 83, and re-tightening the setscrew.

When it is desired to set the machine for forming a longer scroll or a scroll with a greater number of spiral turns, trip arm 111 is adjusted: Moving the trip arm in a clockwise direction relative to its mounting shaft 37 delays the trip action of the clutch and delays the stopping of drive roller 15. Adjustably moving trip arm 111 in a direction corresponding to the scrollforrning direction of rotation of idle wheel 19 increases the length of the scroll-formed portion of a workpiece. This adjustment may be made by loosening setscrew 113, moving trip arm 111 to a desired position and re-tightening the setscrew. After a workpiece has been scrollformed, and immediately after it is disengaged from the face of idle wheel 19, spring 105 acts to return the wheel to a stopped and original position.

Although the idle wheel of the apparatus has been described and illustrated as having a uniform spiral face, it will be understood that other spiral face configurations may be embodied in the idle wheel for effecting a desired scroll formation. Also, in certain embodiments of the apparatus, the idle wheel may not be a complete circular element, and the workpiece engaging face of the wheel may not extend completely around the wheel. It will be further understood that although the invention has been described and the structure illustrated as being applicable for forming fiat metal bar stock, only slight modifications to the faces of the drive roller and idle wheel is necessary for forming scrolls from round bar stock or strip stock.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for bending a substantially long straight workpiece to form a scroll comprising a powered small-diametered drive roller having a circular peripheral face, a small-diametered idle roller having a circular peripheral face, a large-diametered idle wheel including a hub portion and a rim portion having a convexly curved peripheral face curving along a line running progressively distant from the axis of said wheel, a frame, bearing means supported from said frame parallel journalling and individually supporting said drive roller, said idle roller, and said idle wheel in mutual lateral alignment, with said drive roller and said idle roller being closely spaced from the rim of said idle wheel and with the relative arrangement of said drive roller, said idle roller and said idle wheel being such that a workpiece as it is being bent simultaneously extends between said drive roller and said idle roller and between said drive roller and said idle wheel, said relative arrangement further being such that said drive roller face is operably adapted to tangentially engage said workpiece along one side surface and said idle roller face and said idle wheel face being respectively adapted to tangentially engage said workpiece along the opposite side surface.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said bearing means includes idle roller adjustment means for laterally displacing said idle roller on a side of a plane common to the axes of said drive roller and said idle roller, said idle roller adjustment means being workable for varying the spiral configuration of one scroll from another scroll.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said idle roller adjustment means includes support means for selectively adjustably moving the pivot axis of said idle roller about an eccentric axis of support.

4. An apparatus for bending a substantially long straight workpiece to form a scroll comprising a smalldiametered drive roller having a circular peripheral face, a motor, drive means operatively connecting said drive roller and said motor for rotating said drive roller, 21 small-diametered idle roller having a circular peripheral face, a large-diametered idle wheel including a hub portion and a rim portion having a convexly curved peripheral face curving along a line running progressively distant from the axis of said wheel, a frame, bearing means supported from said frame parallel journalling and in dividually supporting said drive roller, said idle roller and said idle wheel in mutual lateral alignment with said drive roller and said idle roller being closely spaced from the rim portion of said idle wheel and with the relative arrangement of said drive roller, said idle roller and said idle wheel being such that a workpiece as it is being bent simultaneously extends between said drive roller and said idle roller and between said drive roller and said idle wheel, said relative arrangement further being such that said drive roller face is operably adapted to tan gentially engage said workpiece along one surface and said idle roller face and said idle wheel face being respectively adapted to tangentially engage said workpiece along the opposite side surface.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which said drive means includes clutch means substantially selectively positionable in an engaged or a disengaged position for respectively starting and stopping the rotation of said drive roller.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which said drive means includes means for moving said clutch means to a disengaged position in response to rotative movement of said idle wheel.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 which additionally includes stop means for stopping the rotative travel of said idle wheel at a certain position relative to said drive and said idle rollers, and spring means for rotatively urging said idle wheel to said certain position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 560,239 5/1896 Stewart 72-147 2,607,395 8/1952 De Petrillo 72--l46 X 2,649,887 8/1953 Lehman 72147 2,774,407 12/1956 Jansen 72-175 X MILTON S. MEHR, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR BENDING A SUBSTANTIALLY LONG STRAIGHT WORKPIECE TO FORM A SCROLL COMPRISING A POWERED SMALL-DIAMETERED DRIVE ROLLER HAVING A CIRCULAR PERIPHERAL FACE, A SMALL-DIAMETERED IDLE ROLLER HAVING A CIRCULAR PERIPHERAL FACE, A LARGE-DIAMETERED IDLE WHEEL INCLUDING A HUB PORTION AND A RIM PORTION HAVING A CONVEXLY CURVED PERIPHERAL FACE CURVING ALONG A LINE RUNNING PROGRESSIVELY DISTANT FROM THE AXIS OF SAID WHEEL, A FRAME, BEARING MEANS SUPPORTED FROM SAID FRAME PARALLEL JOURNALLING AND INDIVIDUALLY SUPPORTING SAID DRIVE ROLLER, SAID IDLE ROLLER, AND SAID IDLE WHEEL IN MUTUAL LATERAL ALIGNMENT, WITH SAID DRIVE ROLLER AND SAID IDLE ROLLER BEING CLOSELY SPACED FROM THE RIM OF SAID IDLE WHEEL AND WITH THE RELATIVE ARRANGEMENT OF SAID DRIVE ROLLER, SAID IDLE ROLLER AND SAID IDLE WHEEL BEING SUCH THAT A WORKPIECE AS IT IS BEING BENT SIMULTANEOUSLY EXTENDS BETWEEN SAID DRIVE ROLLER AND SAID IDLE ROLLER AND BETWEEN SAID DRIVE ROLLER AND SAID IDLE WHEEL, SAID RELATIVE ARRANGEMENT FURTHER BEING SUCH THAT SAID DRIVE ROLLER FACE IS OPERABLY ADAPTED TO TANGENTIALLY ENGAGE SAID WORKPIECE ALONG ONE SIDE SURFACE AND SAID IDLE ROLLER FACE AND SAID IDLE WHEEL FACE BEING RESPECTIVELY ADAPTED TO TANGENTIALLY ENGAGE SAID WORKPIECE ALONG THE OPPOSITE SIDE SURFACE. 